Research Proposal Data Collection Basic Elements 1 A

Research Proposal & Data Collection

Basic Elements 1 • A research problem, issue or question – provides intellectual strategy for the investigation.

Basic Elements 2 • A technique or set of techniques with which you conduct the investigation.

Basic Elements 3 • A body of data which provides the information necessary to sustain the investigation

Techniques-focussed Proposal • Object is to devise a research technique – seek data and a research problem to test the technique. – Example: Mapping litter and Interviewing people: a comparison of two techniques for investigating the use of parks in Toronto.

Data-focussed Proposal • Object is to investigate some data – seek the appropriate techniques and research questions – Example: Police data on prostitution offences: what factors shape the distribution?

Problem-focussed Proposal • Object is to investigate a research question – Need to find suitable data and appropriate techniques. – Example: The politics of homelessness in Toronto’s public space?

Formulating Research Questions • Key to intellectual inquiry

Sample research question: • Does population density affect the distribution of graffiti? – Suggests subsidiary questions

Subsidiary question: • What leads us to suspect that population density might affect the distribution of graffiti? – Is there some theory in the literature to suggest that this might be so?

Subsidiary question: • How can we find suitable population density data? – (perhaps the census)

Subsidiary question: • How do we go about testing the data and answering/investigating the question? – (mapping? graphical analysis? statistical analysis? , which specific techniques? )

What the Research Question Does • • • Provides key to research Suggests a stem of subsidiary questions Suggests types of data required Suggests types of investigative techniques Suggests objectives for literature search and review

Research Proposal • 2 pages approx. outlining proposal • “Starter” bibliography of relevant sources • 4 pages approx. review of 5 relevant sources • Due Oct 10

For Next Time: • Be prepared to tell us what you are proposing to look at.